cant break them loose

[rangeron33s]

pulling the tranny in my 88. its a 2.9 manual. i have the transfer case removed and i was able to break one tranny bolt loose. but im on the next and cant seem to break it loose. im using the same setup (1/2in drive with 2 12" wobble extensions and a pipe slipped over the ratchet) anybody have any tricks for breaking it loose? i have no air compressor so a impact is not an option. also the transmission has never been seperated from the motor and they are not rusted in there so i doubt a torch will help loosin them.

 

[bmerr98]

Any way to get a long bar on it and give it a couple firm whacks?

 

[Tuner710]

X2 on giving it a couple strikes to shock it a bit. Carefull not to bung up the bolt head.
Maybe some PB or Kroil and let it soak a bit.

 

[94fourbyfour]

Buy a ratcheting breaker bar 24'' or longer.

 

[rangeron33s]

i put the truck on ramps and slipped a longer pipe over it. it was the rite size socket but it stripped the bolt head a bit and damn near broke my hand agains the transmission when the socket slipped off. not sure what to do now. cant fit a grinder or drill up there

 

[Chris_1]

presumably you have the crossmember out and the back of the trans lowered. make sure you have a good 6 point socket. I just undid mine yesterday and didn't use a wobble (ujoint) adapter - just my 2 longest 1/2" extensions so I could get on them from way back at the back of the trans, the a 32" breaker bar cracked them fairly good. The ujoint adaptor might be what's giving you trouble

 

[Mark_88]

Or grab a 12 point socket...they seem to grip better and slip less...or even a stripped bolt socket...hammer it on the head and have at it...but replace the bolt if you are reinstalling the transmission...or put it in an easier place to get at for future removals...

 

[rangeron33s]

ill get back under there tomorrow with a 12 point. and wack the bolt with a long bar and hammer. hopefully that will work. and im not using a ujoint im using 2 wobble extensions. the cubed part on the end that the socket goes on is made slightly rounded so the socket can wiggle a bit. its the only way i can get to the bolt and the tail of the tranny is lowered. i need that arch with the wobbles because they cant go straight back.

 

[UrbanRedneckKid]

Most likely in your tools. You lose a lot of torque when your extensions flex. I use a thick 1/2 drive 32" extension that has a 3/8 end on it, with a good swivel socket.

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[rangeron33s]

Just curious. Anyone know what torque they are tightend to at the factory?

 

[Andy D]

To answer your question, probably about 60 foot pounds. But those bolts have vibrated into the threads for 25 yrs.Then the heads rusted away and rusted into the case. And Loctite may have been used. Cars are designed to be assembled, not taken apart.

I have a set of 1/2" Chinese impact sockets, metric and SAE. I will drive them over a crummy bolt head and generally get the bolt moving. 12 point sockets will split if driven too hard ,because they have thinner walls.


I feel your pain. I did a clutch job on the Rat. No air tools. I broke 2 bolts and sawzalled another. Hammers, bars, cheater pipes and jacks can be used to break stuff loose. I learned this on my BMW. But leverage is leverage. It took me forever to take the Rat apart. Here I was, rescuing this heap from the crusher, and the thing was fighting me. Wear gloves , and goggles as much as possible. Get the truck at least 2 feet in the air. Make sure it is steady.

If this is the first time you have done this kinda of work, you have to expect it to take time. and not flat rate time. Because you dont have the same resources as a pro mechanic, or the skill. Don't give up. It was a struggle. And to tell the truth, probably not worth the time and trouble. The Rat is a 1000 buck truck. But it has a mighty good working clutch.

 

[Milton]

Or grab a 12 point socket...they seem to grip better and slip less...or even a stripped bolt socket...hammer it on the head and have at it...but replace the bolt if you are reinstalling the transmission...or put it in an easier place to get at for future removals...

12 Point? IMHO, if you do not want to round the head a good quality 6 point is the way to go.

 

[94fourbyfour]

12 Point? IMHO, if you do not want to round the head a good quality 6 point is the way to go.

I am a journeyman technician at a large Chevrolet Dealership and Trust me 12 point sockets are for 12 boint bolt heads only, you will booger up more bolts than you thought possible, go get a Quality MAC or Snap-On 6 POINT Socket (swivel socket would work too and use the smallest extension possible with the biggest breaker bar you can put on it.

If your not too far into it id suggest running the engine and getting it to operating temperature then trying to break the bolts loose, the warm engine block might relieve enough stress to remove the bolts. Also from my professional experience I have found a 1/2 inch breaker bar is capable of creating more torque via leverage than a 1/2 Inch Air Impact. The impact Just Makes the job go quicker.

 

[FritzTKatt]

Use a 6pt. You may need to stick with a ratchet so you can get the angle to actually turn it. But a breaker bar is definitely a more appropriate tool. The extensions aren't helping, but its understood the lack of accessibility.

It may be easier to loosen the cab mounts and jack the cab up a few inches. Of course those bolts can be a 55gal drum of worms themselves... just a thought though.

Make sure you don't have the drive setup cocked or not seated before you snap one of those heads... and definitely replace the bolts when you get them out.

 

[rangeron33s]

So far I have split 2 6 points and the 3rd partially rounded the head. This is my 5th tranny pull but my first manual tranny pull and my first on something this old. I'm only having trouble on this one bolt. None of them are rusted nor is the entire under carriage of the truck due to massive oil leaks (goal is swapping the motor for a different 2.9 that I rebuilt that came from my 92) have not tried a 12 point yet but the corners of the bolt feel sharp but not as big as they were. The 6 point now has play on the bolt so it just slips around it. No clue what to do.*